Series: Travel Route 66: Essay Series

Trace the history and symbolism of this roadway, the essays underscore how the highway represents the transition from dirt track to superhighway.

• Article 1: 1. Route 66 Overview

  

  Learn about the history of Route 66 and its role in facilitating a mobile nation on the road. Read more

• Article 2: 2. Before 1926: The Origins of Route 66

  

  Read about the Origins of Route 66. Read more

• Article 3: 3. Route 66: 1926 - 1945

  

  Route 66 had its official beginnings in 1926 when the Bureau of Public Roads launched the nation’s first Federal highway system. Learn more about the roadway's history. Read more

• Article 4: 4. Postwar Years: 1945 - 1960

  

  The social dislocation and uprooting of millions of Americans that began during the Great Depression and continued through World War II did not abate with the surrender of Germany and Japan. After the war, Americans were more mobile than ever before. Discover how Route 66 helped facilitate a more mobile America. Read more

• Article 5: 5. Demise and Resurgence of Interest in Route 66

  

  Learn about the final days of Route 66 and current efforts to preserve the historic highway. Read more